'No one should take advantage of Article 19': Madras High Court junks NTK chief Seeman's plea challenging case against him

Chennai: Observing that no one should take advantage of Article 19 of the Constitution concerning freedom of speech, the Madras High Court on Thursday junked a plea by Naam Tamizhar Katchi (NTK) chief S Seeman challenging a case filed against him for his controversial remarks against late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Justice P Velmurugan also refused to grant exemption for Seeman, who was recently in the news for his remarks against Dravidian legend E V R Periyar, from appearing before the trial court. Seeman will become sober only when he appears before the judiciary regularly, the judge said, adding that it has become a habit for the NTK chief to annoy others through his speeches.

The case relates to Seeman’s speech against Rajiv Gandhi during the campaign for 2019 bypolls in Vikravandi in north Tamil Nadu. It is alleged that Seeman termed Rajiv Gandhi as a “betrayer” of Tamils and made disparaging remarks against the former prime minister following which a case was filed based on a complaint by a Congressman.

Seeman had moved the court seeking his discharge from the case currently on in Vikravandi court and exemption from appearing before the judiciary.

The judge didn’t accept the arguments of Seeman’s counsel seeking exemption from personal appearance and contended that politicians should display patience and speak in a manner that doesn’t annoy others.

Seeman, who eulogises LTTE and its slain chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, projects his Tamil nationalism as an alternative to the Dravidian ideology, which has been ruling the state since 1967.